Leading Japanese law firm TMI Associates has opened a new office within STATION Ai, Nagoya's premier open innovation hub, with the aim of providing legal services to startups in the Tokai region.

The new office, located in the heart of Nagoya's Showa-ku district, will be headed by partner Takanori Hitomi, who has expertise in M&A and labour law.

“This new office was opened with the aim of expanding legal services related to startups,” said a statement from TMI. “By setting up a dedicated private office space within STATION Ai, we are committed to providing more accessible legal services to startups and partner companies.”

STATION Ai, one of Japan's largest open innovation hubs, hosts over 500 domestic and international startups, venture capital firms, and support organizations. The facility, which includes offices, a tech lab, and public amenities, aims to foster new business creation and drive economic growth in the Aichi prefecture.

This expansion adds to TMI Associates' extensive domestic network, which includes offices in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Fukuoka. It also follows the firm's recent international growth, with new offices opened in Brussels in 2024 and Paris in 2023.